Tastemaker Talk

Hey hey! WE HEAD TO TASTEMAKER 2026 IN JUST A FEW DAYS!

To celebrate, we 're revisiting one of our main stage sessions from Tastemaker Conference 2025 in Las Vegas! This panel discussion has never been released to the public before, and we hope that it can spark some exciting ideas and a-ha moments for you as we usher in the new year. And get ready--we've got even more amazing experiences waiting in LA later this week!

We hope you enjoy, and we’re excited to see so many of you so soon!!

We're so excited to be sitting down with Ben Jabbawy, founder of Grocers List, for today's episode! Grocers list is a platform built to help food creators drive more website traffic and capture more emails from social channels and unlock new forms of monetization. Ben is sharing all of his insider tips to help you take your next step toward growing your platform (without overwhelming your plate).

Show Links

• Follow Grocers List on IG
• Learn more about Grocers List
• JOIN US AT TC 2026! Ben and his team will be there and ready to help you!

As the search stars would have it, we sat down to record this episode with Marie Haynes 10 minutes after Google's December 2025 update launched! Tune in to hear what Marie makes of it all, and for her interpretation of what this and other AI updates mean for food creators.

Show Links

• Learn more about Google's Core Update
• Join The Search Bar, Marie's online community!
• Subscribe to Marie's newsletter
• GET YOUR TC2026 TICKET TO LEARN MORE FROM MARIE (special thanks to TopHatRank for curating this SEO education for us!)

We spend so much time talking about reaching new levels of your food content creation business, but what if you're at Level 1? In today's episode of Tastemaker Talk, we're sitting down with Kayla Burton from Food Blog Coaching to talk us through exactly what she would do if she wanted to start a food blog in 2025. Whether you're blogging-curious, a beginner blogger, or a veteran looking for a refresh--you'll want to hear Kayla's advice!

Show Notes:

• Get coaching & free resources from Kayla's team
• Follow Kayla on Instagram
• Listen to some of Kayla's fave artists in our Tastemaker Tunes playlist 😎
• Get your TC 2026 ticket!!

We always love hearing from today's guest, Sandie Markle (Blueberri)! We're sitting down with Sandie to discuss the rapid changes in the tech landscape over the past 5 years, focusing on how AI, particularly generative and agentic AI, has transformed content presentation on search engine results pages (SERPs) and social media platforms. We're also teasing some of the takeaways you'll be able to find at Sandie's upcoming speaking appearance at Tastemaker Conference 2026!

Show Links

• Connect with Sandie on LinkedIn
• Find Sandie on Instagram
• Get your TC 2026 ticket!

Laura Ashley Johnson has amassed a loyal following at Dinner in 321, but her story is far from an overnight success. Tune in to hear how Laura Ashley built her brand, lost everything, and started completely over...twice!

Laura Ashley is sharing her tried and true strategies for growth across platforms, including how consistent content creation, quality, and audience connection helped her get back everything she'd lost. If you've ever felt like it's time to throw in the towel, take this as your sign to keep going (no matter how tough things get)!

Show Notes

• Check out Laura Ashley's website
• Follow along on Instagram
• See Laura Ashley speak at Tastemaker in LA!

We had the BEST time at MVCon in early November, and we're excited to spend some time unpacking everything we learned with you today! We've always known that Mediavine cares about creators (they've been a sponsor of our event from the very beginning!), but we gained a deeper understanding of exactly how they are showing up for creators like us in Boston.

Thanks Mediavine, and can't wait to see you in LA!

Show Notes

• Check out Mediavine's new publisher requirements (hint: you may qualify!)

• Check out Grocers List and see how it can help you grow

• Join us at Tastemaker 2026--EBF sale live Nov 18-23, unlocking $100 off!

Today we're catching up with our friend Rachel Korinek from Two Loves Studio! We're diving into Rachel's career transition from editorial to commercial food photography, and exploring her creative evolution along with her approach to storytelling through visual details. If you're in need of a creativity boost or food photography tips, this episode is just what you need!

Show Links

• Check out Creative Photo Essays that our attendees made with Rachel on our 2024 Photography Retreat in ITALY!
• Explore Rachel's stunning photographs on Instagram
• Get your TC2026 ticket here!

This week we're discussing Natasha Pierre's upcoming session at Tastemaker 2026, which will teach you how to create a content strategy that will do #werk in 2026. Natasha is sharing insights on Instagram's evolving algorithm and strategies for creating more purposeful content on multiple platforms.

Show Links:

• Find Natasha on IG @shinewithnatasha and @withshinestudio
• Check out Natasha's fav creator, @olivianoceda
• Get your TC 2026 ticket to hear more in-depth content tips from Natasha!!

We are SO honored to have Rachel Cunliffe, founder and designer at Cre8d Design, joining us today--all the way from New Zealand!!

Diving deeper into Rachel's article, "Why food blogs still matter (even in the age of ChatGPT)," we're dissecting the many ways that AI falls flat when it comes to recipe creation (or should we say imitation). If you've been needing a data-backed pep talk to keep going, creating, and sharing recipes that are uniquely you, this one is for you!

Show Notes

• Get WordPress design support
• Subscribe to Rachel's Substack, "Best Served Hot," for a weekly data report!
• Check out Rachel's food blog, Friday's Pizza
• Follow Rachel on Instagram!
• Learn more with Atlas of AI by Kate Crawford